Senior Team fail to function in heavy defeat to Moycullen

Leading by one point at half-time Moycullen completely swamped Athenry in the second half of their Senior Hurling Championship game at Pearse Stadium. Athenry started well and after a few promising attacks went ahead in the second minute with an Eamonn King goal, but even at that stage their shooting was weak. Moycullen too were having their problems in attack and could only manage a narrow lead at the interval.

Athenry only scored one point in a dull second half and were well and truly beaten by the West Galway side with a final score of 7-13 to 2-4. Little could be said about Athenry's performance, in a pathetic display goalie Mark Donnellan was a keeper without backs. Gerry Donoghue and Jim Jordan were backs without midfielders; in short Athenry failed to function as a team.

Team: Mark Donnellan, Gerry Donoghue, Anthony Freaney, Jim Jordan, Tom Long, Richie Williams, Frank Brody, Eamonn Mullins, John Donnellan, Noel Keogh, Michael Treacy, Richie McEvoy, Jackie O'Shea, lgnatius Madden, Eamonn King.

Bobby Gardner refereed the County Senior Hurling Championship Final between Castlegar and Ardrahan.

County Title for Minor Hurling Team but no luck in Football Final

The Club's minor hurling team qualified for the North Board Final without playing a game as Shehana failed to field a team. Turloughmore were no match for Athenry in the final with a final score of 8-5 to 3-1 in their favour.

In the County semi-final they defeated Oranmore/Maree by 1-8 to 0-6 to qualify for their fourth successive minor hurling final. "Athenry win thrill-a-minute minor final' was the caption on a report of the game in The Connacht Tribune. Played at Pearse Stadium, in one of the best games of the year, Athenry defeated Craughwell by 5-11 to 4-8. Playing fast, open and continuously attacking hurling both teams thrilled the small attendance present.

The scoring started in the very first minute when Luke Glynn sent over a point but Athenry squandered several scoring chances even though their forwards had got good possession. Suddenly they clicked and scores followed in quick succession the two best from long range by Tom Burke, Athenry's centreback. He was the rock on which almost every worthwhile Craughwell attack floundered. His first score was a goal from a seventy-five yard shot and he followed it with a magnificent point from a sideline cut. At the interval Athenry led by 2-6 to 2-1.

At the start of the second half no nonsense Athenry began as if they were going to win easily and made use of their chances and early dominance. Before Craughwell knew what was happening they whacked in a couple of gaols. With a power packed display, Oliver Cloonan brought Craughwell back into the game with a goal but their defence crumbled and Athenry took full advantage to secure a comfortable winning margin.

The Connacht Tribune stated "Credit for Athenry's great victory must go to their brilliant halfback line of Francis Joyce, Tom Burke and Kieran Barrett and their midfield man Luke Glynn. Up front P.J. Molloy and Eugene Glynn shone."

Team: Michael Poniard, Joe Killeen, Johnny Gannon, Pat Kilkelly, Francis Joyce, Tom Burke, Kieran Barrett, Luke Glynn, Sean Hynes, Pakie Flannery, Gerry Kelly (Capt.), Eugene Glynn, P.J. Molloy, Kevin Donoghue, Leo Coffey, Subs: Gerry Coffey, Pat Forde.

After the game Mattias MacDonagh presented the County Cup to Athenry Captain Gerry Kelly. The North Board under 21 Hurling Final between Athenry and Turloughmore was called off with Athenry leading by 6-5 to 2-4. The game was refixed for Mountbellew with 'Turlough' winning by 3-10 to 2-4.

At Tuam Stadium Athenry's minor footballers had three goals to spare over Mountbellew in the first round of the North Board championship winning by 3-5 to 0-5. Though they had knocked out some of the fancied teams in the championship Glenamaddy were easily defeated by Athenry in the semi-final. The first half produced the best football of the game, but the winners took control in the second half and forced Glenamaddy to concentrate on a defensive game to prevent a heavier defeat.The final score was 0-11 to 0-2.

Gerry Corley made a welcome return to the Athenry side for the North Board Final against Killererin at Tuam Stadium. The Killererin side were no match for Athenry who won with a comfortable margin of fourteen points 1-16 to 0-5.

"Sixteen points' stated the Tuam Herald 'shows the true worth of the Athenry attack and the game will be remembered by the small attendance for one of the best goals ever seen at the venue, a sizzling shot after a searing solo run by Athenry's left half forward Luke Glynn"

Killererin who defeated Tuam Stars on the previous Sunday started well aided by the breeze but failed to keep up the pressure. Gerry Kelly opened the scoring with a point from play before halfback Gerry Corley lofted over a splendid drive. Killererin notched a point from a free but their limited number of attacks were easily contained by a resolute Athenry defence. It was in the second half that the winners really ran riot af Gerry Kelly had kicked four magnificent points from play within eight minutes.

The Herald continued "Gerry Kelly played a Captains part for the winners and his strength and power were altogether too much for Kevin O'Brien. Luke Glynn was in scoring form and ended with an impressive 1-8. Stephen Cloonan, Tom Burke and Gerry Corley were outstanding in the Athenry defence while Pakie Flannerey and Sean Hynes displayed great aptitude for work at midfield. P. J. Molloy, Pakie Corley and Frank Joyce were not far behind Kelly in the attack."

Team: Pat Kilkelly, Kevin Donoghue, Stephen Cloonan,Johnny Gannon, GerryCorley, Tom Burke, Kieran Barrett, Pat Flannery, Sean Hynes, P. J. Molloy, Gerry Kelly, Luke Glynn, Pakie Corley, Eugene Glynn, Frank Joyce.

Ballinasloe were no match for Athenry in the County semi-final at Mountbellew. The North Board champions were in control throughout and easily qualified for the county final winning with a final score of 4-11 to 1-1 in their favour.

Hopes of a historic double were shattered by Galway City side St. Michael's in the County final by a margin of three points. Intermittent rain and a surface resembling a skating ring at Tuam Stadium made football difficult but both teams produced some top class fare. Luke Glynn showed some of his undoubted skill by crashing in a goal for Athenry in the opening stages and quickly added a point. But Michael's aided by a strong breeze struck back with a goal by Jim Noone before Pakie Flannery scored Athenry's second gaol. Collecting the ball on the left wing he cut across the goal and hammered a hard shot all the way to the net.

The winners led by 1-5 to 2-1 at the interval and it was difficult to understand why Athenry failed to forge ahead after the resumption. A brilliant save by St. Michael's goalie in the tenth minute denied Athenry a goal they badly needed. Glynn converted a free and when Michael Beatty scored a snap goal for Michael's Athenry realised their perilous position. Stephen Cloonan moved to centre forward and booted a long ball over the bar which was followed by another from Gerry Corley, but it was too late and the goal they desperately needed never came.